Freezing and storing food
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Maximum freezing capacity
To ensure that fresh food placed in the
freezer freezes through to the core as
quickly as possible, the maximum
freezing capacity must not be ex-
ceeded. The maximum freezing capa-
city for freezing within a 24-hour period
is given on the data plate: "Freezing ca-
pacity ....kg/24 hrs".
The maximum freezing capacity given
on the data plate has been calculated
according to DIN EN ISO 15502 Stand-
ard.
Freezing fresh food
Fresh food should be frozen as quickly
as possible. This way the nutritional
value of the food, its vitamin content,
appearance and taste are not impaired.
Food which takes a long time to freeze
will lose more water from its cells,
which then shrink. During the defrosting
process, only some of this water is re-
absorbed by the cells; the rest collects
around the food.
If food is frozen quickly, the cells have
less time to lose moisture, so they
shrink less. As there is not so much
moisture loss, it is easier for the food to
reabsorb it during the defrosting pro-
cess, and very little water collects
around the defrosted food.
Storing frozen food
When buying frozen food to store in
your freezer, check
– that the packaging is not damaged,
– the use-by date,
– the temperature at which the frozen
food is being stored in the shop. The
length of time it can be kept is re-
duced if it has been stored at a tem-
perature warmer than -18 °C.
Buy frozen food once you have fin-
ished the rest of your shopping, and
wrap it in newspaper or use a cool
bag or cool box to transport it.
Store it in the freezer section as soon
as possible.
Never re-freeze partially or fully de-
frosted food. Consume defrosted
food as soon as possible as it will
lose its nutritional value and spoil if
left for too long. Defrosted food may
only be re-frozen after it has been
cooked.
